A severe weather advisory has been issued for the Chicagoland region and northwest Indiana beginning around 2 p.m. Tuesday and lasting until 1 a.m. Wednesday. The warning highlights the risk of tornadoes, hail larger than 2 inches in diameter, wind gusts exceeding 70 miles per hour and localized flash flooding, particularly in areas near and south of Interstate 80. The severe weather threat could continue beyond 1 a.m. for areas south of the highway.
Regions north of I-80 are under a slightly lower level of warning but could still experience hail of similar size, winds over 60 miles per hour and localized flash flooding.
National Weather Service meteorologist Kevin Doom advised residents to remain alert as storms approach. He said people should move indoors if strong storms are approaching and take proper shelter if there is a tornado threat.
The weather warning comes after Chicago recorded its warmest March 9 on record on Monday, when temperatures reached 73 degrees. Typically, temperatures for this time of year average around 44 degrees. The unusually warm conditions follow a February that saw below-average snowfall.
Weather experts say long-term trends indicate rising average temperatures in Chicago across all seasons, particularly during winter, largely due to human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels that release heat-trapping gases into the atmosphere.
Forecasters said Chicago would sit just north of a warm front stretching across the southern part of the metropolitan area on Tuesday, which could cause temperatures in the city to fall into the 50s.
Meteorologists also warned that although storms may be scattered, they are likely to affect the region, with strong winds potentially developing later in the evening and overnight as a cold front moves through the area. Residents have been advised to monitor weather updates and remain cautious as conditions evolve.
